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By Brock Parker, Town Correspondent

A Lexington church has turned its Christmas tree upside down this year in an effort encourage people to re-think their gift-giving this holiday season.

Grace Chapel, located on Worthen Road in Lexington, has affixed its Christmas tree, decorated with lights and tinsel, to the ceiling of its lobby and has stood it upside down. The church has also turned its tree upside down at its Wilmington location.

“The trees are fake,” said Jared Willey, a spokesman for Grace Chapel, in an email. “I’m not sure if that’s because of fire codes, or that we couldn’t figure out how to keep a real upside down tree watered so the needles wouldn’t fall off.”

Willey explained in a press release that the church had an idea in November to do something different this year during Grace Chapel’s annual Global Awareness Week, which provides opportunities for the congregation to connect with its worldwide ministry partners.

The church joined with other churches participating in an “Advent Conspiracy” that encourages people to spend less on gifts and give more meaningful gifts. Grace Chapel is encouraging people to spend more wisely on gifts so they will be free from the anxiety of credit card debt accumulated in the holidays and can enjoy the season with a full heart.

The congregation is also seeking to encourage people to give more meaningful gifts by giving to those who have the most need.

This year Grace Chapel will be taking a special offering at its Christmas Eve Services that will go to International Justice Mission—a non profit organization that helps rescue victims of slavery and sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression.

The church is inviting people to visit Grace Chapel for its Christmas Eve services at its Lexington campus on Monday, Dec. 24 at 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. More information about services is available at www.grace.org/Christmas.